Collapsible can



(No Model.)

` F. R. GROUT.

GOLLAPSIBLE GAN. v No. 317,641. .Patented May 12, 1885.-

UNiTED STATES PATENT Erica.

FRANK It. GROUT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COLLAPSIBLE CAN.

PECIPl'CATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,641, dated May 12, 1885. Application filed September 27, 1384. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, FRANK R. GROUT, of Chicago, iu the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in vCollapsible Cans,of which the following is a description, reference being.

had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is aside View of my improved can. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 shows the same in use, one corner thereof being cut off to provide for the expulsion of thecontents. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view showing the application thereto of a re-enforcing clasp, and Fig. 5 is a side view ofthe saine.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the various iigures.

The object of my invention is to produce a collapsible can for the reception of vaseline salves and other plastic materials which may be cheap in itsI construction, and from which the con ents may be readily expelled without rendrrng it necessary to apply thereto an eX- pensive gate or cap, which may, in addition to its expense, require extra time to manipulate. I accomplish said object by spinning or otherwise forming said can from a single piece of soft metal, the top of which, after the same is filled with the material required, is brought together and folded upon itself, thus securely inclosing and preserving the contents. In large cans it may be found necessary to re-enfoi ce the same by a metallic clasp or other means,`al1 of which will be hereinafter more definitely described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, A represents said can, preferably spun in the usual way, or otherwise formed from soft metal, the same being made substantially in a cylindrical form, which, when pressed together at the top and rolled or folded over upon itself, as at a, becomes irregular in shape, or wider at the top in the direction of said fold, while it is narrowed in the opposite direction, as in Fig. 2. At the same time the shape of the bottom is unchanged-the same remaining Hat, whereby said can may at all times be supported in an erect position.

For the purpose of more thoroughly securing said top when closed` as may be found necessary in larger cans, I place a clasp, c', Figs. 4 and 5, of sheet metal over the fold a, said clasp being closely swaged or pressed upon said fold, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, the lower edges of said clasp being pressed more closely together to insure a tight joint.

To expel the contents of the can, one of the corners of the fold a may be readily cut off with a penknife,as at b, Fig. 3, when the compression of the can causes the contents thereof to eXude, as shown. p

In order that a small portion of one end of said fold may thus be cutoff, I prefer to make said clasp,when used, somewhat shorter than the fold, as in Fig. 5.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l; A seamless collapsible can having a bottom or closed end andprovided with the clasp a', substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with a collapsible` can formed from a single piece of soft metal, of the clasp a', substantially as described.

FRANK It. GROUT.

Witnesses:

D. H. FLETCHER, W. S. BAKER. 

